# Colm Meaney

Colm J. Meaney (/ˈkɒləm/; Irish: Colm Ó Maonaigh; born 30 May 1953) is an Irish actor. Known for his performances across screen and stage, he has received seven Irish Film & Television Academy Award nominations, winning twice for 2001’s How Harry Became a Tree, and 2017’s The Journey. Other film credits include Roddy Doyle's Barrytown franchise, Con Air, Layer Cake, The Damned United, Get Him to the Greek, and The Snapper, for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical, and won the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actor at the 1993 Chicago International Film Festival.
On television, Meaney is best known for his portrayal of Miles O'Brien in both Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999), appearing in a total of 225 episodes. Other television credits include five seasons as Thomas C. Durant on the AMC western Hell on Wheels (2011–2016), James Burbage on the TNT historical fiction series Will (2017), and Finn Wallace on the Sky Atlantic crime series Gangs of London (2020). Meaney’s numerous guest appearances include roles on Moonlighting, MacGyver, Murdoch Mysteries, Law & Order, The Simpsons, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Also a veteran of the theatre, Meaney has starred on Broadway in Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh and A Moon for the Misbegotten, Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tom Stoppard's Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, and Hugh Whitemore's Breaking the Code. Additionally, he has appeared in numerous productions with the National Theatre of Ireland, including the plays of Sean O'Casey, namely Juno and the Paycock, The Silver Tassie, and The Shadow of a Gunman.
In 2020, Meaney was ranked 24th on The Irish Times list of "The 50 Greatest Irish Film Actors of All Time." In 2025 he received the Irish Film & Television Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

## Early life

Meaney was born and raised in Glasnevin, Dublin. He began studying acting at age 14, and he entered the Abbey Theatre School of Acting after secondary school. He became a member of the Irish National Theatre and worked for the next eight years in England, touring with several theatre companies, including the 7:84 theatre group founded by John McGrath.

## Career

Meaney's first television appearance was in Z-Cars on BBC One, in 1978. He guest-starred on shows such as Remington Steele and Moonlighting before embarking on a successful film career; he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his role in The Snapper.
Meaney first appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation in its 1987 pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint", as an unnamed helm officer. His character became a frequently recurring one, and was given the name of Miles O'Brien as he became more prominent in the crew as Transporter Chief. In 1993, Meaney left The Next Generation for a main role in its spin-off Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and remained on that show until its final episode, in 1999. With 225 total appearances on Star Trek, he is second to Michael Dorn with the most appearances on the franchise.
Meaney played Colum O'Hara in the 1994 miniseries Scarlett, the sequel to Gone With the Wind. He has played a minor recurring role as Cowen, leader of the Genii on the series Stargate Atlantis, guest-starred on Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and appeared as Bob O'Donnell on the ABC show Men in Trees. Meaney appeared in the film Die Hard 2, playing the pilot of the plane Windsor 114 that was later crashed by Colonel Stuart.
He was the only actor to appear in all three film adaptations of Roddy Doyle's The Barrytown Trilogy, as the father of the Rabbitte family. His stage appearances include the Old Vic production of Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten. Meaney starred in the British comedy film Three and Out (released in the UK on 25 April 2008). In July of the same year An Post (the Irish Post Office) issued a postage stamp showing Meaney as Joe Mullen in the film Kings.
In 2009, Meaney co-starred with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx in Law Abiding Citizen, playing Detective Dunnigan. In March 2009, Meaney voiced an Irish bartender on the St. Patrick's Day episode of The Simpsons, "In the Name of the Grandfather". In the same month the film The Damned United was released, a mostly fictional retelling of the 44-day period in which Brian Clough was manager of Leeds United F.C. Meaney played former Leeds manager Don Revie. He co-starred in Soldiers of Fortune. In 2013, Meaney co-starred in Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. In 2014, he appeared as The Horse in the BBC's three-part crime story The Driver. For five seasons he portrayed railroad magnate Thomas C. Durant on AMC's drama series Hell on Wheels.

## Personal life

Meaney married Irish actress Bairbre Dowling in 1977. Their daughter was born in 1984. The couple divorced in 1994. He married French costume designer Ines Glorian in March 2007. Their daughter was born in 2005. They live in the Majorcan town of Sóller.
Meaney is a supporter of Sinn Féin.

## Acting credits
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Nailed | Younger Protestant | |
| 1987 | Omega Syndrome | Sean | |
| 1987 | The Dead | Mr. Bergin | |
| 1990 | Die Hard 2 | Pilot | |
| 1990 | Dick Tracy | Cop at Tess's | |
| 1990 | Come See the Paradise | Gerry McGurn | |
| 1991 | The Commitments | Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr. | |
| 1992 | Under Siege | Daumer | |
| 1992 | The Last of the Mohicans | Maj. Ambrose | |
| 1992 | Far and Away | Kelly | |
| 1992 | Into the West | Barreller | |
| 1993 | The Snapper | Dessie Curley | Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 1994 | War of the Buttons | Jerome/Geronimo's father | |
| 1994 | The Road to Wellville | Dr. Lionel Badger | |
| 1995 | The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain | Morgan the Goat | |
| 1996 | The Van | Larry | |
| 1996 | The Last of the High Kings | Jim Davern | |
| 1997 | Con Air | Agent Duncan Malloy | |
| 1997 | Owd Bob | Keith Moore | |
| 1998 | This Is My Father | Seamus, owner of the Bed and Breakfast | |
| 1998 | Monument Ave. | Jackie O'Hara | a.k.a. Snitch |
| 1998 | October 22 | Steve | |
| 1998 | Claire Dolan | Roland Cain | |
| 1999 | Mystery, Alaska | Mayor Scott Pitcher | |
| 1999 | Chapter Zero | Frank Lazarus | |
| 1999 | Four Days | Fury | |
| 1999 | Most Important | Dan O'Neill | |
| 1999 | The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns | Seamus Muldoon | |
| 2001 | Backflash | Gin O'Malley | Video |
| 2001 | How Harry Became a Tree | Harry | Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor |
| 2003 | The Boys from County Clare | Jimmy | |
| 2003 | Intermission | Jerry Lynch | |
| 2004 | Blueberry | Jimmy McClure | |
| 2004 | Layer Cake | Gene | |
| 2004 | Battle of the Brave | Benjamin Franklin | |
| 2005 | Turning Green | Tom | |
| 2006 | Five Fingers | Gavin | |
| 2006 | A Lobster Tale | Cody | |
| 2007 | Kings | Joe Mullan | Nominated – Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor |
| 2007 | The Metrosexual | The Mayor | Great Lakes Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2008 | Clean Break | Trevor Jones | |
| 2008 | Three and Out | Tommy | |
| 2009 | The Damned United | Don Revie | |
| 2009 | The Race | Frank Kensay | |
| 2009 | Law Abiding Citizen | Detective Dunnigan | |
| 2010 | Get Him to the Greek | Jonathan Snow | |
| 2010 | Alleged | H. L. Mencken | |
| 2010 | Parked | Fred Daly | |
| 2010 | The Conspirator | Gen. David Hunter | |
| 2011 | El Perfecto Desconocido | Mark O'Reilly | |
| 2012 | Whole Lotta Sole | Detective Weller | Known as Stand Off in North America |
| 2012 | Bel Ami | Monsieur Rousset | |
| 2012 | Soldiers of Fortune | Carter Mason | |
| 2012 | The Hot Potato | Harry | |
| 2012 | The Cold Light of Day | CIA Agent | |
| 2013 | Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa | Pat Farrell | |
| 2013 | One Chance | Roland Potts | |
| 2013 | A Belfast Story | Detective | |
| 2013 | Free Birds | Myles Standish | Voice |
| 2014 | The Devil's Hand | Elder Beacon | |
| 2016 | Norm of the North | Grandfather | Voice |
| 2016 | Pelé: Birth of a Legend | George Raynor | |
| 2016 | The Journey | Martin McGuinness | |
| 2016 | The Secrets of Emily Blair | Father Avital | |
| 2017 | Halal Daddy | Martin Logan | |
| 2019 | Tolkien | Father Francis | |
| 2019 | Seberg | Frank Ellroy | |
| 2019 | The Last Right | Detective Donall Crowley | |
| 2020 | The Banker | Patrick Barker | |
| 2020 | Pixie | Dermot O’Brien | |
| 2020 | There's Always Hope | Jonathan Stack | |
| 2021 | The Monkey | MacDonell | Voice |
| 2022 | Confession | Father Peter | |
| 2022 | Save the Cinema | Martyn | |
| 2022 | Marlowe | Bernie Ohls | |
| 2022 | Unwelcome | "Daddy" Whelan | |
| 2022 | Three Day Millionaire | Mr. Barr | |
| 2023 | In the Land of Saints and Sinners | Robert McQue | |
| 2023 | The Problem with People | Ciáran | |
| 2024 | No Way Up | Brandon | |
| 2024 | The Ballad of Davy Crockett | Caleb | |
| 2024 | Duchess | Frank Monaghan | |
| 2024 | Bring Them Down | Ray | |
| TBA | The Panic | J.P. Morgan | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | Z-Cars | McGlin | Episode: "Pressure" |
| 1981 | Les roses de Dublin | Michael Kavanaugh | Miniseries |
| 1982 | Play for Tomorrow | Kevin Murphy | Episode: "Easter 2016" |
| 1982 | Strangers | Smollett | Episode: "Charlie's Brother's Birthday (Part 1) |
| 1983 | Playboy of the Western World | Shawn | Television film |
| 1984 | The Hidden Curriculum | David Dunn | Television film |
| 1986 | Moonlighting | Katharina Suitor | Episode: "Atomic Shakespeare" |
| 1987 | Remington Steele | Man in Tavern | Episode: "Steele Hanging in There: Part 2" |
| 1987 | Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues | Tinkerer | Television film |
| 1987 | Tales from the Darkside | Constable | Episode: "Beetles" |
| 1987–1988 | One Life to Live | Alf | Unknown episodes |
| 1987–1992, 1994 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Chief Miles O'Brien | 52 episodes |
| 1989 | Perfect Witness | Meagher | Television film |
| 1990 | Equal Justice | Nucchi | Episode: "The Art of the Possible" |
| 1990 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Ernie | Episode: "The Undercover Nun Mystery" |
| 1991 | The New Adam-12 | Father | Episode: "Panic in Alverez Park" |
| 1991 | MacGyver | Dr. Irwin Malcolm | Episode: "Good Knight MacGyver: Part 1" |
| 1993 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Jake Slicker | Episode: "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" |
| 1993 | Brooklyn Bridge | Mr. Kramer | Episode: "Good as Gold" |
| 1993–1999 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Chief Miles O'Brien | 173 episodes |
| 1994 | Scarlett | Father Colum O'Hara | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Gargoyles | Mr. Dugan (voice) | Episode: "The Hound of Ulster" |
| 1998 | Money Kings | Al Sheehan | Television film; a.k.a. Vig |
| 1999 | The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns | Seamus Muldoon | Television film |
| 2002 | Random Passage | Thomas Hutchings | Miniseries Nominated – Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series |
| 2002 | King of Texas | Mr. Tumlinson | Television film |
| 2004 | The Murdoch Mysteries | Inspector Brackenreid | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Bad Apple | Gibbons | Television film |
| 2004–2006 | Stargate Atlantis | Chief Cowen | 3 episodes |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Judge Harold Garrett | Episode: "In the Wee Small Hours" |
| 2006 | The Unit | Charge D'Affaires | Episode: "Security" |
| 2006 | Caved In: Prehistoric Terror | Vincent | Television film |
| 2006 | Covert One: The Hades Factor | Peter Howell | Television film |
| 2007 | Men in Trees | Bob O'Donnell | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Law & Order | Wyatt Landon | Episode: "Lost Boys" |
| 2009 | The Simpsons | Tom O'Flanagan (voice) | Episode: "In the Name of the Grandfather" |
| 2009 | Alice | King of Hearts | Miniseries |
| 2009 | ZOS: Zone of Separation | George Titac | Miniseries |
| 2009 | Mercy | Dr. Parks | Episode: "I Believe You Conrad" |
| 2011–2016 | Hell on Wheels | Thomas "Doc" Durant | 51 episodes Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2013) Nominated – Irish Film & Television Award for Best Actor TV (2013) |
| 2014 | The Driver | The Horse | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Childhood's End | Wainwright | Episode: "The Overlords" |
| 2017 | Will | James Burbage | 10 episodes |
| 2020 | Gangs of London | Finn Wallace | 5 episodes |
| 2020 | The Singapore Grip | Brendan Archer | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Shelley Kelly | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | The Serpent Queen | King Francis I | 4 episodes |

### Stage

| Year(s) | Production | Role(s) | Theater | Notes |
| 1987 | Breaking the Code | Mick Ross | Neil Simon Theatre | 7 November − 10 April |
| 1992, 1993 | Every Good Boy Deserves Favour | Colonel | Don Wash Auditorium Chicago Theatre Fox Theatre Minneapolis | 15 − 16 February 10 − 11 April 17 April 24 April |
| 2007 | A Moon for the Misbegotten | Phil Hogan | Brooks Atkinson Theater | 29 March − 10 June |
| 2017 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Big Daddy | Apollo Theatre | 23 July − 7 October |
| 2018 | The Iceman Cometh | Harry Hope | Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre | 26 April − 1 July |
| 2023 | Bedbound | Dad | Galway International Arts Festival Olympia Theatre | 14 − 29 July 8 − 12 August |